Category Archives: God’s Character

its been a busy week… lots of thoughts going on in my head right now. Here are just some random thoughts that have encouraged me as of late… I’m not sure all the exact verses and passages… they are just things I’ve memorized that God has brought to mind lately…

“forgetting those things which lie behind, i press forward.”

“there’s an anchor for my soul, though my heart and flesh may fail. Jesus has overcome. It is finished…”

“rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”

“for I am persuaded that neither death nor life… nor anything…can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“for His sake I am contented with insults, with hardship… for when I am weak then He is strong.”

“come to me. all you who are weary. and I will give you rest… for my burden is light”

“trust in the Lord at all times. pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us.”

“it is finished.”

“the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

“and when I saw you wallowing in your blood i said to you in your blood “live.” I took you, clothed you and you became mine.”

“taking up the helmet of salvation and the shield of faith.”

“and He will wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

“He who called you is FAITHFUL. He will surely do it.”

“His mercies are NEW every morning.”

“so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”

“God is our refuge and strength. A very present help… we will not fear.”

“and jehoiacim removed his prison garments from him, and every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table.”

“and they put a clean robe and turban on him. and the angel of the Lord was standing by.”

“peace. be still.”

“whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.”

“I am with you always, even unto the end.”

“He only is my Rock, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken.”

“i will bless the Lord at all times, His praise will continually be in my mouth.”

Despair does not lie in being weary of suffering but in being weary of joy. G. K. Chesterton

When ours are interrupted, his are not. His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or wasted or unendurable) “toward the goal of true maturity” (Rom 12:2). E. Elliott

When you and I hurt deeply, what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of God. We need to see how great God is; we need to recover our lost perspective on life., Things get out of proportion when we are suffering, and it takes a vision of something bigger than ourselves to get life’s dimensions adjusted again. W. Wiersbe

The “Why?” becomes unimportant when we believe that God can and will redeem the pain for our good and his glory…. When I put the sovereignty of God beside his unfailing love, my heart can rest. Verdell Davis

In a way I wish I could take to heaven my old, tattered Everest and Jennings wheelchair. I would point to the empty seat and say, “Lord, for decades I was paralyzed in this chair. But it showed me how paralyzed You must have felt to be nailed to Your Cross. My limitations taught me something about the limitations You endured when You laid aside your robes of state and put on the indignity of human flesh.” At that point, with my strong and glorified body, I might sit in it, rub the armrests with my hands, look up at Jesus, and add, “The weaker I felt in this chair, the harder I leaned on You. And the harder I leaned, the more I discovered how strong You are. Thank you, Jesus for learning obedience in your suffering…You gave me grace to learn obedience in mine.” Joni Eareckson Tada

So many times we say that we can’t serve God because we aren’t whatever is needed. We’re not talented enough or smart enough or whatever. But if you are in covenant with Jesus Christ, He is responsible for covering your weaknesses, for being your strength. He will give you His abilities for your disabilities! Kay Arthur

Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God. Robert Schuller

The fact that disabled people hang in there does something for Christians. It’s not about being an inspiration for others, it more than that…. it’s a mystery. God somehow strengthens others by their faithfulness. They may feel like a burden to others, but God thinks the opposite. He thinks its necessary for others to take care of the disabled… they do more for one’s spiritual well being than can be imagined. What’s more is that it’s all being credited to the disabled person’s account, per Phillipians 1:25-26. Joni Eareckson Tada

Let your mind be renewed by this: God cannot lie. God is love…. “The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.” Do you know why the Bible tells us things like that? its because we’re tempted to think that it hasn’t endured… that it doesn’t reach me in 2009 in this situation. So God keeps speaking to us and telling us “no! it does! it endures forever. It lasts forever. It is for you… God gave up His own Son to death to save you from sin. And He points to that to show you how deeply he cares for you.

He asks you to measure His faithfulness and His love by the cross. If He would do that for me, how much more will he meet me when I’m growing weary in my sickness, when I’m wishing I had that relationship, when I don’t know what tomorrow holds. How much more is God going to care for me. God’s Word tells us that His arm is not too short to save. He is able to meet us in any circumstance… Look back on your life. Not ONE of God’s promises has failed. That doesn’t mean you haven’t faced disappointment. But look back. All of God’s promises to be with you and to be faithful… not one has failed. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. Not a partial trust.

SO here’s the idea I want you to think about … this kind of leaning (lean not on your own understanding) leaves us vulnerable. If this thing I’m leaning on were to go away I would fall flat on my face. And that leaves me off balance… this is a little scary. I’m trusting in something else. Leaning on the Lord leaves us off balance and we don’t like to feel off balance. A lot of us spend our entire Christian lives running away from the feeling of being off balance. That feeling of being vulnerable… of being held up by God… this is exactly where God created us to live…and that is exactly where we are the most secure than we’ve ever been.” Exceprt by Joshua Harris from sermon at CovLife on 8/9/09: Total Trust.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

This past Sunday, I attended Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg Md. I was there for the Worship God 09 conference, and my friends and I decided to stay through the weekend and drive back after church. Its funny how God’s sovereignty works…

The conference was very challenging physically for me. Due to the noise and busyness of the week, I had many migraines and other health issues. I was grateful to be able to attend at all, though there were many sessions I was either resting on a couch in the lobby, or sitting on the floor in the back. I really enjoyed the songwriting seminars and learned many helpful tips to incorporate into my writing…

Well, on Sunday, Josh Harris got up to preach. Their church is currently working through a series on Proverbs and the topic this week was about trusting God. His passage was Proverbs 3:5-6. He talked about what it means to trust God, what it means to lean on Him and what it means to acknowledge Him.

i think it is the only time in my life that I cried through an entire sermon. God revealed so many areas in my life where I fail to trust Him. I fail to trust that He is good, that He loves me, and that He has my best in mind. Instead I often trust my own understanding… “this doesn’t make sense… God must not love me… or He must have forgotten about me…”

He mentioned that leaning on God does not mean simply resting like you would against a podium but when the podium is taken away you’re still able to stand just fine. Instead its a full dependence of “God, if you are not there to catch me, I will fall flat on my face. Help.” I spend much of my life trying to avoid this feeling, but this is where I was created to live… in utter dependence on God’s grace and strength and provision.

There are so many unknowns in my life right now… What’s going on with my health? Will I be “stuck” in Greenville forever? Where am I supposed to live? Will I ever get married? have kids? be financially sound? oh, so many unknowns…

How grateful I am for Josh Harris and this past Sunday. I am grateful for the comfort that comes from being reminded that my God has not forgotten me… He is not angry at me or withholding goodness. His steadfast love and faithfulness have followed me all the days of my life. He has led me through valleys. He has led me through paths of rejoicing. And He has promised not to leave… even now, in confusion…

Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. (Psalm 69:16-17)

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:24-26)

Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning (Lam 3:19-22)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)

For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. (Job 34:21)

For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. (Psalm 18:28)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death (Philippians 1:18-20)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:12-13)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. (Psalm 88:13-15)

How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? (Psalm 89:46)

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:24-26)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:16-17)

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5)

“For this God is our God forever and ever! He will be our guide even unto death!” Psalm 48:14

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2-3)

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:4-7)

wow! the past few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind for me. i’m glad to be back home. i’m hoping things calm down back to some degree of normal…

I left Greenville on June 20th for vacation in Washington DC and haven’t really stopped since. I got back from DC on the 28th, spent 4 days working, unpacking, cleaning, etc, and spent the last 4 days in NC visiting a friend.

Though the past few weeks have been great, I am exhausted. Lately God has been reminding me that rest and peace don’t mean that life is not in chaos – it means remembering that He is faithful through all the changes and confusion.

Emotionally I feel worn pretty thin… like I really haven’t had any time to think, process, pray, recuperate, etc. And I really have been missing my church… its been 3 weeks since I’ve been there and in many ways I feel very alone. Physically, my body has been thrown through the ringer due to eating out so much and that doesn’t agree so well with my food allergies. And I haven’t slept well in about 2 weeks as a result of it all. Today starts a 2 week detox diet so hopefully things will start to get back to normal soon.

Yesterday at my friend’s church in NC, the sermon was on Philippians 4:6-7 (do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.)

What a helpful truth to be reminded of. I’m so prone to anxiousness and worry. I am glad that my God is in control of everything… even the changes that make no sense to me. And I’m glad that though He is aware of my weakness and failure, that He grants me the gift of peace, that He guards my heart and mind, and that I am secure in Christ Jesus.

Remeber not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new things; now its springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

“Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me since i appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD.

Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard my voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield, in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults and with my song I give thanks to him.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty Rock, my refuge is God.

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For he satsifies the longing soul and the hungry souls he fills with good things… they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and burst thir bonds apart.

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope, my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning…